Too many wasted opportunities and errors that cost them potential momentum was the by now all too familiar complaint that South African coaches shared after a disappointing round for the local teams in PRO14 Rugby.
The Toyota Cheetahs used the strong gale-force wind at their backs to good effect in Newport on Saturday to open up a 10 point lead at the break but coach Hawies Fourie agreed that they needed to be further ahead to challenge for the win that was so necessary for them in their challenge for a place in the Finals Series. The Dragons came back to win 13-10.
That means the Cheetahs did pick up a bonus point and with the Glasgow Warriors being outplayed 55-19 by Leinster on Friday night the gap between the Cheetahs and the play-off bracket is now just two points.
With the Cheetahs heading home to play six games in Bloemfontein they are still well in the hunt but Fourie lamented the mistakes that cost his team the chance of returning to South Africa in third place, which would put them in the play-off zone, in their conference.
The Cheetahs’ game against the Dragons started on a negative note for them when they had to rule skipper Ruan Pienaar out shortly before the kick-off.
“Ruan had pain in his lower back. We tried to get him right by giving him anti-inflammatories and pills but it didn’t help. There was still a chance he would play, right up to the warm-up, but it was clear there that he wasn’t right so we pulled him out before kick-off,” explained Fourie.
“We didn’t get enough points on the board in the first half when the wind behind us was unbelievably strong. To just be 10 points ahead wasn’t good enough and we needed to take our chances better. Unfortunately, some passes were dropped and penalties were given away and it cost us.
It was very difficult playing against that wind in the second half. “In that period we gave away too much possession at the breakdowns and a few lineouts were also lost. That cost us. It was a big disappointment but it is what it is and we are now just going to have to make the most of having six games at home.”